Page 6 - IB November 2024

Briefs Briefs

destination. The successful coronary artery bypass graft
procedure was performed on a 61-year-old patient from
American Samoa Lautoka. Deputy Prime Minister, Viliame Gavoka, highlighted
A runoff election is set for the American Samoa gubernatorial this as a key development in Fiji’s healthcare infrastructure,
race after no candidate secured the required 50% majority. with the government offering incentives for private
The team of Pulaalii Nikolao Pula and Pulu Ae Ae Jr led with healthcare investment.
42.4% of votes (4284), followed by incumbents Governor
Lemanu Peleti Mauga and Lt Governor Laapui Talauega
Eleasalo Ale with 36.2% (3660). In congressional results,
incumbent Aumua Amata won re-election with 74.8% of French Polynesia
votes. The House of Representatives will see four new faces French Polynesian MP Tepuaraurii Teriitahii has expressed
replacing incumbents, including two women: Vaasa Simanu concerns about the potential impact of Donald Trump’s
and Trude Ledoux Sunia. reelection on tourism and the environment. Teriitahii, from
the Tapura Huiraatira party, noted particular worry about
American tourism, suggesting political uncertainty could
affect US visitors’ travel decisions.
Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands
The Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands has
implemented a temporary ban on poultry and egg imports
from Hawaii following the detection of highly pathogenic Guam
avian influenza (HPAI). The Division of Animal Health Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz is prepared to begin receiving
maintains its existing ban on US mainland poultry imports. up to 5000 Marines relocating from Okinawa. The first small
Officials urge residents to monitor their flocks closely and detachment is expected to arrive “as soon as practicable”,
report any unusual symptoms or deaths immediately. with the main force following in coming years. The base
has invested nearly US$1 billion in Navy family housing
improvements around the island. The relocation aims to
create a more geographically distributed, operationally
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands government has signed a superannuation resilient US Marine Corps presence in the Indo-Pacific region.
agreement with Australia, enabling Cook Islanders to transfer
their retirement savings between the two countries. The
memorandum of understanding allows those who move to the Kiribati
Cook Islands permanently to transfer their superannuation to Adapting to a sea level rise of up to 0.5 metres will cost
the Cook Islands National Superannuation Fund, while workers the three most vulnerable Pacific atoll nations nearly $US10
with accumulated retirement savings in the Cook Islands can billion—equivalent to about 20 years of gross domestic
move their savings to Australia upon permanent migration. product—according to the World Bank. In the case of Kiribati,
the cost of physical adaptation, by building seawalls in urban
centres, house raising and inland relocation, for a sea level
rise of up to 0.5 metres, is estimated at $US3.7 billion.
Federated States of Micronesia
FSM President Wesley W. Simina marked the nation’s 38th
Independence Day by announcing the signing of a Presidential
Proclamation formally recognising ‘Kamorale’ as the national Marshall Islands
greeting. President Simina noted: “Kamorale brings together More than 50 Marshallese workers at the US Army Garrison-
the greetings from all four of our states—Kaselehlie, Kwajalein Atoll held a two-day strike in early November,
Mogethin, Ran Annim, and Lenwo—into one unifying the Marshall Islands Journal reports. As a result, two
expression of our identity as Micronesians. It is not just a civilian American supervisors at the missile range have been
collection of words; it is an embodiment of who we are as a dismissed. The workers alleged violations of human rights and
people, a daily reminder that though we come from different racial discrimination and petitioned for adjustments in local
islands and cultures, we stand as one nation.” workers compensation.

Fiji
The Pacific Specialist Healthcare Hospital in Fiji has Nauru
completed its first open-heart surgery, marking a significant Around 30 asylum seekers recently released from detention
step toward establishing the country as a health tourism on Nauru are facing severe hardship, with inadequate living
allowances and restricted freedoms. Released from detention

6 Islands Business, November 2024